Two major ports face Tk1,850cr revenue gap

Concerns are mounting over the two key land trade hubs – Benapole and Hili – as they together recorded a revenue shortfall of around Tk1,850 crore in the first eight months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, raising alarms over government income.
Allegations of customs evasion, false declarations, and irregularities at Benapole, alongside a decline in imports at Hili, have significantly impacted revenue collection, according to officials and industry insiders.

Benapole hit by alleged irregularities
Benapole, Bangladesh’s largest land port, has recorded a revenue gap of nearly Tk1,650 crore during the period, customs officials said. 
The shortfall is particularly concerning as there has been no notable decline in the volume of imports or exports through the port.
According to customs data, a total of 68,086 trucks handled about 12.35 lakh tonnes of goods, with imports accounting for nearly 11 lakh tonnes, raising questions about the source of the revenue gap.
Business leaders allege that a powerful syndicate is exploiting loopholes by clearing restricted goods, submitting false declarations, undervaluing shipments, and misclassifying high-duty items as low-duty. 
They claim that collusion between dishonest officials and some traders is contributing to significant revenue losses.
Abu Taher Bharat, joint general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, alleged that some officials inflated duties to pressure importers and later settled for unofficial payments.
Another trader, Md Bappi Hossain, said not all officials are involved but claimed that a syndicate facilitates quick clearance of falsely declared goods, putting honest businesses at a disadvantage.
There have also been instances of large-scale irregularities.
On several occasions last year, goods worth crores of taka cleared with false declarations were later seized by law enforcement agencies. 
Cases have also emerged where hundreds of Import General Manifests (IGMs) lacked valid Bills of Entry, indicating systemic weaknesses.
Concerns have also been raised about port security, with allegations that scanning systems are not consistently used and goods are often cleared based solely on documentation.
However, customs authorities say they have intensified drives against false declarations and are maintaining a zero-tolerance policy.
Rahat Hossain, assistant commissioner of Benapole Customs House, said multiple consignments involving false declarations have been seized and legal action taken under the Customs Act.
“We are following a zero-tolerance policy to prevent such irregularities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Benapole Land Port Director Shamim Hossain acknowledged past seizures but said that in some cases, further examination found consignments to be compliant.

Hili faces import slowdown
At Hili Land Port in Dinajpur, the revenue shortfall stands at Tk203.02 crore over the same period. Against a target of Tk576 crore, only Tk373 crore has been collected.
Unlike Benapole, the primary concern at Hili is a decline in imports rather than alleged malpractice.
Importers say lengthy clearance procedures, excessive scrutiny, and bureaucratic hurdles are discouraging businesses from using the port.
According to traders, it takes between seven and 15 days to clear goods at Hili, compared to just one day at some other ports. This delay increases the risk of order cancellations and price fluctuations.
The import of cumin, a key revenue-generating item for the port, has dropped by nearly 90%, further impacting revenue. 
Traders allege that many importers are shifting to alternative ports such as Sonamasjid due to better facilities.
Importer Dinesh Poddar said prolonged clearance times are discouraging business activity at Hili.
“Delays of up to two weeks create uncertainty and financial risks, making it difficult for importers to continue using this port,” he said.
Sontosh Soren, deputy commissioner of Hili Land Customs Station, said import volumes depend largely on the opening of Letters of Credit (LCs).
“We have been in regular communication with importers, C&F agents, and other stakeholders to increase LCs. Customs is working to facilitate trade and ensure faster assessment and clearance,” he told Daily Sun.